Interactive learning system method for infants, toddlers and young children

ABSTRACT

A learning system method for infants, toddlers and young children which uses selected visuals stored on an audiovisual storage and playback device in conjunction with unique flash cards to provide an enhanced learning experience.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on provisional application Serial No.60/161,342, filed Oct. 25, 1999. This application is incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an interactive teaching method and, moreparticularly, to an interactive teaching method which makes use of anelectronic medium combined with unique flash cards to provide importantand stimulating learning experiences for parents, infants and toddlersin the home and preschool environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the educational experience is the key to anindividual's success, and indeed, in many cases, to the prosperity andsuccess of nations. It is also known that proper educational stimulationat a very early age, i.e., at the infant and toddler stage, will veryoften lead to enhanced learning ability as the child progresses throughthe educational system. Interactive educational methods, utilizing acombination of video material and printed material, is also known to behighly effective in conveying information to eager young minds.

One such interactive teaching method is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,120,230, granted to William E. Clark, et al, on Jun. 9, 1992 (“ClarkPatent”).

The Clark Patent describes an interactive method of effectively andefficiently conveying information which makes use of video disctechnology, along with associated printed material. A video disc isprovided, on which is stored a video lesson which contains pictures,diagrams, movie clips, etc., to make the topic being taught come to lifewith the presentation of the visual images. Printed lesson materials arealso provided for in the Clark Patent, which printed materials, whenused in combination with the video production, allow a teacher tocustomize lesson plans and have access to narratives and referencematerial related to the video presentation.

Although the Clark Patent was an acknowledged advance in the area ofinteractive teaching methods, it was primarily directed to a classroomenvironment and to children beyond the infant and toddler stage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an interactiveteaching method that is particularly useful in the home and preschoolenvironment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aninteractive teaching method that is directed to infants and toddlers.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide aninteractive teaching method that uses video information in combinationwith unique flash cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a learning system method forinfants, toddlers and young children, utilizing an audiovisual storageand playback device in conjunction with printed material, such as flashcards.

It is a feature of the invention that one side of a flash card has apicture associated with a selected visual stored on the audiovisualstorage and playback device, along with a word in bold type.

It is another feature of the invention that a second side of the flashcard includes questions which can be used by a caregiver to stimulatethe infant or toddler as the selected visual is being shown.

It is a still further feature of the invention that the flash card mayalso include foreign language cards and phrases for use by the caregiverin simulating the infant or toddler.

It is a general feature of the invention that the use of selectedvisuals, in conjunction with the unique flash cards, greatly enhancesthe interest of an infant or toddler when exposed to the educationalmaterial being presented.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present inventionwill be more fully understood from the following description of anillustrative embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A illustrate one side of the flash cards used with thepresent invention;

FIGS. 1B, 2B and 3B illustrate the reverse side of the flash cards usedwith the present inventions.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the method according to the claimed invention;

FIG. 5 depicts one aspect of the present invention comprising arecordable device, and a caregiver with at least one flashcard forstimulating an infant; and

FIG. 6 depicts another aspect of the present invention comprising theutilization of flash cards in conjunction with the Internet.

FIG. 7 is a depiction of one embodiment of the present invention showingone face of the flashcard;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary depiction of an instruction sheet accompanyingthe flashcards according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary depiction of an instruction sheet accompanyingthe flashcards according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a depiction of a train on one face of the flashcard forstimulating a child.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a learning system method forinfants, toddlers and young children, with the intent to teachvocabulary, pronunciation, and basic concepts.

The method utilizes selected visuals stored on an audiovisual storageand playback device in conjunction with flash cards or a book. Theaudiovisual storage and playback device can consist of videotape, CDtechnology, DVD technology, online, i.e., Internet access, as well asfuture presentation technologies.

In one exemplary embodiment, a visual image from the audiovisual storageand playback device, such as a picture of a dog, is presented to aninfant. Simultaneously, or at a later time, a flash card bearing thesame image is also presented to the infant. The child's caregiver thenstimulates the child by posing imaginative questions to the child basedon the flash cards. Use of the flash cards, in conjunction with thevideo image, stimulates the child and reinforces the learningexperience.

The flash cards utilized with the inventive method are advantageouslydesigned to encourage the child to learn and to assist the caregiver.For example, referring to FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A, there is shown a picture,along with a word in bold text. In this example, there is shown a dog, acat and an apple, along with the accompanying word. It is known thatfrom a very young age, children begin to understand that particularcombinations of letters make up particular words, and that those wordshave meaning. On the back side of the flash card, as shown in FIGS. 1B,2B and 3B, are teaching tips for the caregiver to use, such as thequestions to ask the child and the word is also translated into aplurality of foreign languages.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the caregiver and the child areassisted in pronunciation by having the foreign language words stored onan audio storage and presentation device so that the word can be readilyrepeated. This embodiment can also include Internet access to a uniquelydesigned website to again assist the caregiver or child withpronunciations or the vocabulary words in the various languages.

Further embodiments of the invention 2 (FIG. 5) include using a visualimage 8 from the audiovisual playback device 12 and a recordable device10, such as a picture of a train is presented to an infant.Simultaneously or at a later a later time flashcard 24 bearing the sameimage is also presented to the infant or child. The child's caregiver 20then stimulates the child 22 by posing imaginative question to the childsuch as:

1. “Look at the train!, What do you see?”

2. A train says, “Choo-Choo!, What sound does a train make?”

3. Would you like to ride on a train?

Use of the flashcards 24 in conjunction with the video image 8stimulates the child 22 and reinforces the learning experience.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the caregiver 20 and thechild 22 are assisted in pronunciation by having the foreign languagewords stored on an audio storage/recordable device 10 and presentationdevice 12 so that the word can be readily repeated. This embodiment canalso include Internet access 30 (FIG. 6) to a uniquely designed websiteto again assist the caregiver 20 or child 22 with pronunciations of thevocabulary words in the various languages.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cards 24 can beused by the caregiver 20 before watching the video with the baby 22.When the same, or similar, images 8 appear in the video, the child couldbe asked to point and name the objects as displayed in the video. Thisapproach creates prior knowledge that is reinforced and extended whenthe object appears in the video.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the caregiver 20 canencourage the baby 22 to play with the cards 24. For example, the baby22 could be encouraged to pick up the cards 24 and identify the imageson the cards 24 themselves or on the video by asking “What do you see?”or “Can you find the banana?”. Furthermore the babies could also beencouraged to group the cards based on similarity into stacks toys,animals, and other objects.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

We claim:
 1. A learning system method directed to an infant comprising:presenting to the infant a selected image stored on a recordable medium,said image corresponding to a object; and prompting the infant withinformation on at least one flash card in order to stimulate the infant;wherein said information on the flashcard includes data relating to theobject and pronunciations of the object in a plurality of languages. 2.A learning system method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a firstside of the flash card contains a picture which matches the selectedvisual.
 3. A learning system method in accordance with claim 2, whereina second side of the flash card contains questions to be used by thecaregiver.
 4. A learning system method in accordance with claim 3,wherein the second side of the flash card contains foreign languagewords for use by the caregiver.
 5. A learning system according to claim1, wherein said recordable medium includes at least one of a videotape,CD, DVD, and an Internet web site.